U.S. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle thanked U.S. troops for their service on Wednesday (December 25) during a Christmas Day visit to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kanoehe Bay.
"We just wanted to come by and say on behalf of all Americans, thank you for the unbelievable work you do every day, we could not be prouder of you," said U.S. President Barack Obama.
The president addressed about 580 active duty service men and women for about three minutes, wishing them a "Mele Kalikimaka," and then spent time talking to troops individually and posing for photographs.
Obama told the troops assembled in the Anderson Hall dining facility that he had spent part of Christmas Eve speaking with 10 members of the military, stationed in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
"It was just a sampling of the incredible sacrifice that all of you and your families make every day," Obama said.
The White House said earlier the service members wounded on Saturday during an aborted rescue mission in South Sudan had been among those Obama had called.

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